LIGHT-WEIGHT BUTTER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 146, 22 June 1915, Page 8

LIGHT-WEIGHT BUTTER

PROSECUTIONS IN TRAIN. At intervals citizens have complained in The Post that they have paid at the rate of Is 7d a lb for short-weight butter. The Health Department has been alert for the detection of such alleged practices, and the result of the vigilance is that certain prosecutions may follow. The Department has met with a difficulty. The law provides for action if the quantity as sold is below the weight specified on the wrapper, but if no weight is indicated the Department is apparently put out of court. Certain packers of butter quickly saw the advantage of omitting the weight on the wrapper of alleged pound pats of butter. Experience has proved that the law will need amendment — a single clause will be sufficient — to enable the Department to secure a fair deal for the public — weight, according to specification. Protests are also being made against "light-weight" in commodities outside the Health Department's scope. A suburban resident states that alleged hundredweights are sometimes 101b or 121b short. It' is not easy for the average householder to obtain convincing proof of such exploitation.

Indications of the great interest being taken in fruitgrowing in Canterbury are (says the Christchurch Press) given by the fact that Mr. W. J. Courtier, of the Orchards Division of the Department of Agriculture, has his time very fully occupied. In addition to demonstrations of pruning and spraying in different parts of the district, and to examining candidates of proficiency in those operations, Mr. Courtier conducts a class for fruitgrowers in Rangiora weekly. This class is composed of those who have taken up sections with the view of planting them as orchards, and as some of those who have done so have little or no knowledge of the business, Mr. Courtier gives instruction in practical fruitgrowing, in the preparation of the soil, control of diseases^ and other An additional activity is the preparation of those desiring to obtain certificates of proficiency in packing and grading. The Army Service Corps branch of the National Reserve held a parade last evening, when instruction in squad and platoon drill was given by S.M. Willis. The corps will parade again on Wednesday and Friday nights to practise for the competitions to be held in Newtown Park next month. At 2.30 p.m. to-morrow Mr. Nathan will sell by auction Mr. Bowio's 6-roomod b^swew. rjaddenco at Kir&ka. Bay. .